Indicator



May "22,- 1. 923. 1,455,936

'R. REYNOLDS INDICATOR Filed Jan. 8, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 22, 1923. 1,455,936

R. REYNOLDS zumcnon Filed-Jan. a, 1921 2 She ets-Shoet 2 Fatented may 22, 1923.

more rare eaten? ROHDE REYNOLDS, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS,

INDICATOR.

Application filed .J'anuary 8, 1921. Serial No. 435,928.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Rormn RnYNoLDs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain 11 w and useful Improvements in Indicators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in indicators and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with automobiles or other vehicles, and it is an objectof the invention to provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby instructions may be readily transmitted between the driver of the vehicle and a passenger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character comprising two substantially duplicate indicating mechanisms each including an index or pointer, together with means whereby said indices or pointers are operatively connected for movement in unison.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character with novel and improved means whereby a signal is operated to give notice that the device has been operated to convey amessage or indication.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved indicator whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will'be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation'of an indicating device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation portion of the device.

Fi re 3 is a view in top planof a second portion of-the device.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through one of the indicating of one dial 2.

mechanisms, with the circuits for a lamp and signal diagrammatically illustrated.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View taken substantially on the line of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view in elevation of a cap employed in connection with each of the indicating mechanisms, detached, and

Figure '2" is a view in plan of an index or pointer.

As herein embodied, my improved indicator comprises two mechanisms A and B of substantially duplicate construction and each of which comprises a casing 1 provided with a dial 2 held within the casing in a conventional manner v The upper portion of the casing 1 is provided, with a hood '8 extending in advance f the dial 2 and in which is arranged an illun'iinating member 4 herein disclosed as an electric bulb in communication through the contacts or wires a and b with a source E of electrical energy. The hood 3 has its lower face open so that the rays emitted from the bulb will be thrown upon the dial 2 so that the indications 5 on the outer or exposed face of thedial 2 be readily discerned and particularly after nightfall. interposed in the conductora is a switch 6 of a conventional type so that, when required, the circuit for the illuminating-member a may be broken.

The back wall of the casing '1 of the mechanism A at the top portion thereof is provided with a hook member 7 or the like whereby the mechanism A may be readily and conveniently suspended at a point in' close proximity to a passenger or asotherwise preferred while the casing 1 of the mechanism B is provided at a side thereof or as otherwise preferred with the outstandmg clamping members 8 so that the mechanism B may be suitably supported at a desired position for convenient visual access by the driver of the vehicle.

. Arranged within each of the casings :1 and securedsto the central portion of the back is abearingffi), the bore 10 0f which registers with an opening 11 in the back wall ,ofwthe casing. Disposed through the opening 11 and the bore 10-of1the abeaning9 is a shaft '12. The forward end of the shaft 12 is .pro- I vided with a reduced extension 14 angular in cross section and which extends through an opening 15 in the central portion of the P denotes a -:pointer'or index provided p is continued by an outstanding cylindrical extension 17 on which is threaded a clamping nut 18 wherebythe pointer or index P isheld in applied position upon the extension 14. I

19 denotes a disc or wheel fixed to the shaft 12 within the casing 1 and adjacent thebearing9 and .interposed between the hub 20 of the disc or wheel 19 and the adjacent end of the bearing 9 is a washer 21 surrounding the shaft 12. In the present embodiment of my invention, the disc or wheel 19 is fixed to the shaft 12 by a screw 22, threaded through a wall of the hub 20 and having binding contact with the shaft 12.

The periphery of the disc or wheel 19 is provided circumferentially therearound with the substantially equidistantly spaced notches or recesses 23 in each of which is adapted to seat a lip or holding dog 24 carried by the free end portion of a flat spring 25. The opposite end portion of the spring 25 is anchored, as at 26, to the base flange 27 of the bearing 9, although it can be otherwise secured as the necessities of practice may prefer. When the li or holding dog 24. is seatedwithin a notc or recess 23, the shaft 12 is held against rotation yet the resiliency of the spring 25, to

gether with the rounded cross sectional configuration of the lip or dog 24, will permit the shaft 12 to rotate whenthe requisite power is transmitted to said shaft.

Extending laterally from the bearing 9 is a shank 28 which also extends loosely through the spring 25. Threaded upon the outer end portion of the shank 28 and out wardly of the spring 25 is a nut 29. The

nut 29 provides means whereby the tension of thespring 25 may be regulated, in accordance with the necessities of practice.

Also extending outwardly from the base flange 27 of the bearing 9 is a pair of elongated contact members, 30 insulated from each other and from the base flange 27. The contact members 30 are normally separated and each of said membersis in electrical connection with the source E of electrical energy through the medium of the conductors 0 and at leading respectively to the conductors a and b. Interposed in the conductor a is an audible signal S preferably a buzzer; -While a signal S may be employed in connection with each of. the mechanisms A and B, it is preferred that such signal be used only in connection with the mechanism Bor that mechanism associated with the driver of the vehicle.

One of the contacts 30, or that one im mediately adjacent the; disc or wheel 19, is.

provided with a member or lug 31 of insulating material and which is adapted to 23, the contact members 30 are separated but when the disc or wheel 19 is rotated and as the member or lug 31 travels out of a lug or recess 23, the members 30 come into contact one with the other, whereby the circuit for operatingthe signal S is closed and whereby an audible signal is given to the driver of the vehicle that amessage, or indication is being transmitted to him by the passenger.

The rear or inner end portions of the shafts 12 of both of the mechanisms A and B are operatively connected by a flexible shaft 32 so that when the pointer or index of one of the mechanisms A or B is rotated, the pointer or index of the second mechanism will move in unison therewithand in the same general direction and to the same extent. Each of the pointers or indices P is adapted to be manually operated and for which reason an outstanding flange or web is carried by the outer end portion of each of the indices or pointers. This flange r the conduit 34 is engaged with a collar 35 Y which extends through and has sliding movement in a radially disposed slot 36 formed in a concavo-convex cap 37. The marginal portion of the cap '37 is defined by a flange 38 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the outer face of the central portion of the back wall of a casing 1; The cap 37, when applied, has its convex face outwardly directed. at each end of the conduit 3-1 slidably ar ranged within a: slot 36 of the cap 37, the efliciency of the device is materially facilitated as the cap 37 serves as a guide which has a particular advantage when'the'position of either of the mechanisms A and B is being changed and such as when the passenger removesv thehmechanism A from its modification without departing from the By having a collar 35 principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described including a casing provided With a dial, a pointer coacting with the dial, an operating shaft for the pointer extending through a wall of the casing, a flexible shaft engaged with the extended end portion of the first named shaft, a conduit through which said flexible shaft is disposed, and a concavo convex cap secured to the Wall through which the first named shaft extends, said cap being provided with a radially disposed slot, an end portion of the conduit being engaged within the slot of the cap for sliding movement lengthwise of the slot.

2. A device of the character described including a casing provided with a dial, a pointer coacting with the dial, an operating shaft for the pointer extendingthrough a wall of the casing, a flexible shaft engaged with the extended end portion of the first named shaft, a flexible conduit through which said flexible shaft is disposed, and a concavo-convex cap secured to the wall through which'the first named shaft extends, said cap being provided with a radially disposed slot, an end portion of the conduit be ing engaged within the slot of the cap for sliding movement lengthwise of the slot, said conduit being flexible.

3. A device of the class described including a casing, dial associated with the easing, a pointer coacting with the dial, a bearing arranged within the casing, a shaft supported by said bearing and with which the pointer is engaged, means for rotating the shaft, a wheel fixed to the shaft within the casing and adjacent the bearing, the periphcry of the Wheel being notched, a spring secured to the bearing and overlying the periphery of the wheel, and a lip carried by the spring to seat within a notchwof the wheel to hold the shaft and pointer normally against rotary movement.

4. A device of the class described including a casing, a dial associated with the easing, a pointer coacting with the dial, a bearing arranged within the casing, a shaft supported by said bearing and with which the pointer is engaged, means for rotating the shaft, a wheel fixed to the shaft Within the casing and adjacent the bearing, the pe riphery of the wheel being notched, a spring secured to the bearing and verlying the periphery of the Wheel, a lip carried by the spring to seat within a notch of the wheel to hold the shaft and pointer normally against rotary movement, a shank extending from the bearing and disposed through the spring, and a member threaded upon the shank outwardly of the spring to provide means to regulate the tension of the spring.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ROHDE REYNOLDS. 

